Meet President Henning

Kent Henning is the thirteenth president of Grand View University. Since his arrival, he has guided the university to unprecedented growth in virtually every area , including full-time enrollment, residential student population, expansion and renovation of university facilities, the addition of graduate education and undergraduate academic programs, and the expansion of athletics with national championship teams. His vision to reconstitute Grand View as a 21st century version of the institution created by its founding Danish immigrants has resulted in a vibrant residential campus that draws students from all over the US and from many other countries who want to immerse themselves in the philosophy of educating the whole person – mind, body and spirit.

Henning’s involvement with the central Iowa community is key to the growth of the university and the many opportunities the community affords Grand View students – from internships, clinicals, and student teaching to entrepreneurial partnerships and full-time employment after graduation. His community activities span both local and state organizations:

UnityPoint Health, board member

UnityPoint Health Des Moines, board member and past chair

Bankers Trust, community advisory board member

Des Moines Embassy Club, board member

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, past board member

EDGE, board member, chair of PK-20 work group

Capital Crossroads Steering Committee, member

United Way of Des Moines, past chair of the Higher Education Annual Fund Drive

The President’s involvement in the higher education community allows Grand View to influence policy, share ideas, and stay abreast of new trends. He participates in numerous organizations on both state and national levels.

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), executive committee member, Council of Presidents member

Iowa College Foundation (ICF), member

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Council of College and University Presidents, member

Lutheran Education Conference of North America (LECNA), member

Henning graduated from Wartburg College summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in English and communication arts. He earned his master of business administration with honors from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.